Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-04
DAKoTA's CAPITAL.

An Argument In Behalf of the Repeal
Of the Commission Act.
Canton Advocate: As an act of
common Justice, or from purely selfish
motive OF self-defense, the people of
south Dakota should demand the repeal
OF the capital commission act and the
seat of territorial government to
Yank ton. In the first place the expense
OF retaining the territorial capital at
Bismarck is enormous. The great bulk
OF the wealth and population OF the
territory is situated south of the forty
sixth parallel, and the great territorial
schools, penltentiaries and other IN,
stitntions are naturally all located where
the people can conveniently get at them.
The rapidly developing portion of south
Dakota known as the Black Hills can
reach Yankton by rail; the great com
raising and 2ilt-edged agricultural gold
mine known as southeastern Dakota ia
but stone-throw from Yankton, and
the gigantic mines of weklth known as
the wheat fields of central Dakota ars
enabled to reach this south Dakota town
over two or three great lines of railway,
Three hundred and fifty thousand people
are sitnated easy OF access to any south
Dakota town; one hundred and
seventy.fve thousand people are not
particular where they 70, and twenty.
i've Thousand people prefer Bismarck.
This is the situation, and an overpowsr-
ing majority of the people of Dakota is
compelled to pay tribute to an insignia.
cant minority OF senl-hunters, hardy
cowboys and Esquimaux in the north.
Take, for instance. Lincoln county.
Our legislator in going from Canton to
Bismarck will be compelled to travel
760 miles, and return. His mileage will
cost us $3.50. His extra per diem will
cost $25 more. The United States
marshal may want to take a trip to
Lincoln county. 1t will cost the terri
tory $275. The Black Hills members
Will cost the territory q cool $1,000
mileage. And 30 it goes. Extravag anoe
Is pied on top OF corruption by the Bis
marck ieeches until either disastrous
taxation Or total bankruptcy will stare
Us in the face.
The Advocate has no personal Rriey-
anee against Bismarck, nor is it fanciful
IN Its remarks about the financial con-
ditlon OF the territory. The peoples
money is at stake, and the people should
t1esAnS "hAAS VIC AAoh 10 uOt. uib our
densome taxation is already being felt
by the farmer, and it is growing worse.
The territorial Indebtedness is constant
ly increasing, and the retention of the
seat OF government at Bismarck is q
menace to the peace and prosperity OF
the people of south Dakota. It is from
| this sweat-box of fraud and corruption
| that all the schemes for
the eleyatiop OF the monopolist
and the depression of the farmer
emanate. Already word has been pass.
ed along the line by the Bismarck ring.
leaders that the incoming session of the
legislature must be captured by the
north regardless OF expense or principle,
The first scheme ia to aobble the presi-
dency Of the council and the speaker
ahip OF the honse, and then hold high
reveI in the halls OF the Dakota solops.
1t is planned to rebuild the territorial
capitol, reiuvenate the bankrupt town.
lot holders and defunct politicians and
then make grand hissder for admission
as whole. Intoxicated with past sue
eesses and realizing the leniency of the
people OF south Dakota, there is nc